Julian the Hospitaller

Saint Julian the Hospitaller is a much-loved saint of both the Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Churches, though the details of his birth are uncertain. Ancient traditions place his origins variously in Le Mans in France, in Ath in Belgium, or in Naples in Italy, and the earliest written mentions of his life appear in the late twelfth century. According to the cherished medieval legend, Julian fled his family to avoid a foretold sin, yet through a tragic misunderstanding he killed his own parents. Stricken with remorse, he and his wife embraced a life of penance and pilgrimage, seeking to atone through works of mercy. Settling near a dangerous river crossing, Julian built a hospice to welcome the weary and the sick and devoted himself to helping travelers find shelter and safely pass the waters. For this reason, he is especially invoked by those journeying far from home, and he is also remembered as a patron of hospitality and, in some accounts, of hunters. He is honored as patron of Faleria and Macerata. His feast day is February 12.